DSL preview: Hawks on top again?

Many of their starters are inexperienced. Their nonleague schedule
is brutal. But make no mistake: It's their league title to lose.

The Silverado Hawks appear to have a good shot at winning their
third straight Desert Sky League crown — but first they have to survive
six potentially hellish weeks.

Don't be shocked if Silverado enters league play with a losing
record. Their first six opponents are Serra, Serrano, Quartz Hill, Palm
Desert, Colton and Chino Hills.

"For the first time in the last couple of years I'm really
clueless," Silverado coach Carl Posey said. "So much could happen in
the next six weeks. ... We could feel completely annihilated and
exhausted or feel like we're ready for league. ... It comes down to how
we hold up physically and mentally."

The Hawks impressed opponents who saw them in summer passing league
games; returning junior quarterback Jemeryn Jenkins will look to go to
the air more this season and complement a productive running game.

Another team that impressed some opposing coaches during the summer was — believe it or not — Victor Valley.

The Jackrabbits have lost 20 straight games, but they have
athleticism this season and a revamped coaching staff led by longtime
head coach Leland Eudy.

"We saw Victor; they probably have more talent than we do," Posey
said. "I think that Victor has to be considered. ... People can't
forget that Eudy's had some very good football teams over there, and he
knows what he's doing. I remember when they were beating us."

The team that's come the closest to beating Silverado recently is
Barstow, which came in second last season and lost 14-10 to the Hawks.The Aztecs have some talent returning and have a new head coach, Jose Rubio.

"The discipline (Rubio) has instilled in the time he's been there is
amazing," said Burroughs coach Matt Gracey, who saw the Aztecs during
the summer. "And the kids seem to really like playing for him. ...
Silverado and Barstow are the top two programs in the league. The
bottom three are trying to figure out a way to get into those top two
spots."

Gracey's team is very young and has just five returning starters,
including linebacker/fullback Dominic Sween, the younger brother of
former Burroughs star quarterback Karsten Sween. The rest are juniors,
sophomores and untested seniors, but Gracey hopes they can grow up in a
hurry.

Granite Hills, coming off a fourth-place finish last season, also
has a new coach. Justin Price is a first-time head coach who had been
an assistant with Sultana. Price says if the Cougars can stay healthy,
they will be right in the thick of things.

Coaches and players from each of the five teams feel like they are
playoff contenders. Sure, it might be typical summertime optimism, but
the league really does look like a crapshoot.

No matter their individual aspirations, four of five teams can agree on one thing: They're gunning for the Hawks.

"It would be nice not be the favorite," Posey said.

Too bad.

Kris Reilly is the sports editor of the Daily Press. He can be reached at kreilly@vvdailypress.com or at 951-6274.